eNews 18 October
Access to Leeds, powerful poetry, Black History Month, staff reward process and more
Celebrate
Special celebration of our ‘lighthouse’ access programme
“Access to Leeds felt like a lighthouse guiding me into the University system. The scheme helped me to feel like I belonged and that I was part of the community at Leeds.”
Access to Leeds – our contextual admissions programme – marks its 20th anniversary having supported more than 10,000 UK undergraduates to register at the University. It’s a crucial part of our commitment to widening participation and improving outcomes for students from less represented backgrounds.
Read the inspiring stories of four colleagues whose personal journeys have come full circle by graduating from students to staff to help others in need of support.
Watch | Poet showcases ‘Let It Be Named’ arts and engineering milestone
Leeds alum Khadijah Ibrahiim – one of Yorkshire’s most celebrated poets – has showcased a cultural vision for the future following a collaboration bringing together arts and engineering. ‘Let It Be Named’ is a key milestone in the School of Mechanical Engineering’s cultural change aspirations to drive a more inclusive and diverse environment for work and study, in line with our new Research Culture strategy.
Thought pieces
Listen | How do we prevent violence against women and girls?
“It was fantastic to be part of such an insightful discussion on how, by working across our region, we’re tackling violence against women and girls.
“I hope this podcast inspires listeners to think about how they can help – because together, we are all part of the solution.”
Listen to this week’s podcast featuring Dr Sam Lewis, Dr Anna Barker and Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime in West Yorkshire Alison Lowe OBE.
Inside Track | Helping transform lives through open research
“An open research culture will ultimately advance knowledge and help transform lives.”
Bernadette Moore, Professor of Nutritional Sciences and Head of the Graduate School for the Faculty of Environment, and Claire Knowles, Associate Director: Research and Digital Futures, showcase outstanding examples of how we’re further embedding vital open research practices at the University.
Black History Month
Take part | Living Library
2.30-3.30pm, 24 October
Our Living Library – spotlighting, celebrating and highlighting the diverse experiences and lives of our Black community members – continues in Parkinson Court next week. A collection of ‘living books’, where people share their life stories with others, the Living Library is taking place as part of Black History Month.
Visiting ‘readers’ can have 15-minute conversations with the human ‘books’ to find out more about their lives, careers and inspirations. With a focus on the richness and diversity of cultures within our Black community, it’s a chance to have open dialogue, challenge unconscious bias and build connections.
Watch a guide to how the Living Library works.
Film screening | Under Your Nose
1-3pm, 25 October
The Women at Leeds Network will be screening the documentary ‘Under Your Nose’, which explores intersectional Black LGBT+ activism histories in the UK. Using interviews, archival materials and old footage, ‘Under Your Nose’ charts the journey of trailblazers who joined the fight to open a Black Lesbian and Gay Centre for the Black community in the 1980s.
Community
‘Amazing opportunity’ to support bereaved families
“When Elliot died, time just stopped. Life continued around us but we didn’t feel part of it anymore, we just existed in a bubble, living from minute to minute with so many emotions coming and going.”
Andrea Kerslake, Assistant Head of Student Support at Leeds, reflects on the past decade since the devastating loss of her two-year-old son, Elliot, and explains how hope grew from tragedy with the founding of a new charity to help other families left to face their grief alone in the aftermath of child bereavement. Find out how you can also get involved in supporting this vital work.
Inspirational Professor launches Black Female Academics’ Network
Professor Lisa-Dionne Morris has launched the Black Female Academics’ Network (BFAN), aimed at supporting and upskilling other Black female academics worldwide. Only one of 61 Black Women Professors in the UK, Lisa-Dionne wants to increase the visibility of Black Women in academia and build on the support she received as part of the 100 Black Women Professors Now! programme.
Register | Hear more on crucial University change in the latest COO session
1-2pm, 1 November
Register for a hybrid event to hear more about the University’s strategic priorities direct from Chief Operating Officer (COO) Rachel Brealey. Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Education Jeff Grabill will share an update on the National Student Survey (NSS) and Jenny Baynes, Director of the Transformation Office (TO), will talk about the TO. There’ll be time for questions and the chance to network with colleagues, with tea and coffee provided afterwards.
Alice Bacon Lecture | The Female Leader
6.30-7.30pm, 2 November
Dame Sharon White, who chairs the John Lewis Partnership, will deliver the 2023 Alice Bacon Lecture titled ‘The Female Leader – Looking to the day that it’s unremarkable’. Questions and a drinks reception will follow the lecture.
British Council Study UK Alumni Awards
Nominations for the British Council Study UK Alumni Awards can still be submitted. Open to all alumni based outside the UK who’ve graduated since 2008, the awards recognise exceptional work in a range of fields, including science, sustainability, social impact and culture. Email alumni@leeds.ac.uk to share your recommendations or to find out more, and meet inspirational finalists and winners from Leeds this year.
Ideas in Practice | Unlocking social value
Leeds University Business School partnered with the Institute for Collaborative Working and the Social Value portal for the latest Ideas in Practice conference. Enthusiasm for the engagement opportunities arising as a result of this partnership has led to conversations about it becoming an annual feature in the Ideas in Practice calendar.
Did you know?
That the University recycles 54% of its waste and the remaining waste is incinerated to create energy.
Campus life
Recycle Week
16-22 October
The Parkinson Building is being lit up green this week to celebrate Recycle Week. Visit the Sustainability website to see what you can recycle on campus.
Climate
Climate Plan roadshow
11am to 2pm, 30 October
Visit our roadshow stand in the Leeds University Union (LUU) foyer, as part of its Climate Week. You can win some great prizes by telling us which aspects of the Climate Plan matter most to you.
Join | Priestley Centre for Climate Futures
Is your work related to climate change? Become a member of the Priestley Centre to keep up to date with the latest climate-related opportunities and build your network. Complete the member registration form and contact climate@leeds.ac.uk with any questions.
Community ambassadors commence outreach work
As part of the Sustainability Service’s annual Welcome to Leeds campaign, community ambassadors are visiting homes in areas popular with students, to share information and guidance on issues such as waste, noise and sustainable living.
Staff reward
Annual reward process opens soon
The annual process for managers to recommend colleagues for Additional Scale Increments (ASI) or Discretionary Increments (DI) runs from November to February. Visit the HR website or speak to your HR team rep for further information.
Competitions
Win | Feline good: Send in your top cat photos for National Cat Day
29 October
Send us photos of your favourite feline friend to celebrate National Cat Day, with the chance to win a Purr-fect prize! We have a hamper of goodies up for grabs in our kitty competition, with the chance for colleagues to vote for their top cat (details to follow).
Digital developments
Present Vevox polls directly from PowerPoint
The University’s polling and quizzing tool Vevox is now available in PowerPoint. This means users can import and run Vevox polls directly in PowerPoint, without the requirement to switch between tools. Colleagues can also customise Vevox polls to match their PowerPoint templates.
Academic Personal Tutoring Essentials course
20 October
Time is running out to book onto a one-hour course for Academic Personal Tutors (APTs) to learn how digital systems can help you offer bookable meeting times to your tutees, locate their workbooks and record meeting outcomes.
Getting started with Minerva
23 October, 8 November and 5 December
Join the ‘Getting Started with Minerva’ online training sessions if you’re new to the system. These are aimed at postgraduates and colleagues who use Minerva to support teaching and learning.
Update | New Identity and Access Management system
Work on the Identity and Access Management (IDAM) solution for new staff and students is continuing. We’re currently resolving a few issues affecting a very small number of staff (about 150) and are thoroughly testing the new student process before it goes live.
Students
Continuing to help students navigate their first few weeks
Check out the information and support available to students as they continue to navigate their first few weeks. You can also read the weekly emails that students are receiving, including last week’s email on ‘finding your people and places at Leeds’.
Research
Last chance | Be Curious Fellowship
Applications close on 20 October for the Be Curious Associates and Fellowship – a holistic programme empowering public engagement.
Apply | Horizon Europe Research Opportunities
With the UK’s return to Horizon Europe, colleagues are encouraged to reach out to the University’s dedicated EU support team to explore research opportunities spanning all career stages. All successful UK applicants will be funded. You can contact the EU support team at eufunding@leeds.ac.uk.
Apply | Horizons Connect Fund
Applications for the Horizons Institute’s Connect Fund – designed to help research-focused colleagues explore external partnerships – close on 30 October.
Autumn gathering | Child Health Outcomes Research at Leeds
3.30-5pm, 7 November
Child Health Outcomes Research at Leeds (CHORAL) is an exciting new programme to support and develop child health research across Leeds, Bradford and beyond. Sign up for an informal autumn gathering and meet other child health researchers.
Book | Network launch
5.30-7pm, 21 November
Book to attend the hybrid launch of the Remaking Places interdisciplinary network, focused on building partnerships between the University, city council, business and civic groups to tackle climate issues, ecological breakdown and social inequality.
Support | New open access policy
Find out how the Library will support you in meeting new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) requirements. From January 2024, long-form publications, such as monographs, book chapters and edited collections, must be open access within 12 months of publication under a Creative Commons licence.
Wellbeing and support
Book | World Menopause Day events
Today (18 October)
University events are taking place throughout the day to mark World Menopause Day and raise awareness of the support available at Leeds.
Quit smoking this Stoptober
Colleagues are reminded the University is a Smokefree campus. Access the free national Stoptober campaign app to help you quit smoking or cut down.
Learning and development
Keep up to date with the latest learning and development opportunities from the University on our For Staff website, including:
- Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice
- Policy Engagement Kickstart programme
- University-wide mentoring scheme
- Foundations in Teaching course
- Teaching Innovation and Practice in Student Education community; and
- Psychosocial Resources suite of workshops.
Events
Ilkley Literature Festival
6-22 October
Tickets are still on sale for the Ilkley Literature Festival, with a host of Leeds colleagues taking to the stage as it celebrates its 50th year. The Festival has maintained strong links to the School of English since it started in 1973.
Exhibition | Back to it
10am to 5pm, today (18 October)
An exhibition showcasing work produced by a group of returning undergraduate fine art students features pieces created on industrial placement and the year abroad scheme. The exhibition will be followed by a private view and drinks reception from 5-7pm, which colleagues are also welcome to.
The Music Exchange: Gender Equality, Performance and the Music Industry
5.30-6.45pm, today (18 October)
The School of Music, in collaboration with the Leeds International Piano Competition, is hosting an event using archival collections and personal reflections to explore gender and representation in music over time.
Events Network get together | Building blocks of a successful event
4.30-6.15pm, 23 October
Register for a face-to-face networking opportunity to meet colleagues in events-related roles and get a first look at the University’s new city centre venue, Cloth Hall Court. There will also be some fun activities, including a demo of Vevox, the University’s newly acquired polling tool.
Tell us your story
We’d like to hear about the great work you’re doing. Contact internalcomms@leeds.ac.uk to share your stories.
Submit a request
You can submit a request for an eNews entry via email. Please contact us in advance of the deadline (the Friday preceding the relevant Wednesday circulation date), so we can advise you on our editorial and content guidelines.
Other than in exceptional circumstances, eNews entries should be no more than 60-70 words long, as these are designed to be bite-sized chunks of news linking to other trusted sources (such as University websites) for full details.
Keeping up to date
You can keep up to date with our latest news on the For Staff website and the staff Twitter account.
With best wishes,
The Internal Communications and Engagement team
Posted in: All Staff EmailEnewsUniversity news